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| Yes | 58% | 566 votes | Total: 970 votes | |
| No | 42% | 404 votes |
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Add to FavoritesOnce again, I seem to be writing an article because I can't quite believe the subject is up for debate. Once again, it seems to be about Harry Potter, which is odd, because while I enjoyed reading the books, I can't say I'm a devoted fan or anything. I don't think I even bothered to buy the last three, but simply borrowed them from friends and family. I just have a hard time imagining why (or even if) this is a divisive issue for fans.
Is the idea that a group of adolescents at a boarding might start feeling a few hormonal urges something that incenses certain members of the Harry Potter fanclub? Perhaps. I don't particularly frequent the forums that obsess over such things, but I admit to being a regular poster in a place that would make them look strictly amateur: The Doctor Who Forums at, well, http://www.doctorwho forum.com/
Now, with that long running TV show, there's a very similar problem. For the first thirty years or so of its existence, the central character (The Doctor) is an alien. He looks human, and he acts human. Except for in one crucial area. Since it was broadcast in 1963, he's been travelling about with a variety of companions, of which an overwhelming majority were pretty young girls, sometimes wearing skintight glittery catsuits or skimpy leather bikinis. And for thirty years or so, the Doctor has come across as something of an avuncular father figure to them, with no suggestion that he ever intended to get inside their pants. This is probably as much to do with the casting choices as anything: Ten actors to date have played the role, the first seven of which were picked mostly on the strength of their acting ability rather than for being hunky male leads.
So, all was good and platonic until the abortive attempt to resurrect the series in 1996. Paul McGann was cast as the Doctor, and the McGann brothers are well known for their ability to not leave a dry seat in the house. And to top it all, the Doctor actually /kisses/ his female co-star! "Eeww, he kissed a girl!" came the cry from a fair portion of the longtime fans. No doubt they were worrying about the possibility of cooties. Since the series returned big-time in 2005, it's not been shy in continuing this trend, and still some fans react quiet violently to the idea that their hero might actually have some form of sex drive.
I can only imagine the situation is similar for Harry Potter fans. Both franchises have fans old and young, and it's not a unreasonable reaction from a nine year old if Hermione snogs Ron. It gets a little worrying when the same reaction is coming from a fan who's in their forties.
After all, JK Rowling's books are supposed to be about adolescence as a whole; when you strip away the magic and unicorns and evil monsters, it's about an 11 year old boy who finds himself thrust into an exciting new world of experiences once he learns to grip his wand firmly. Even aside from my Carry-On style innuendoes, this is one of the driving forces through the series, which starts off pretty childlike and innocent but becomes somewhat darker and more adult as the central characters grow up; the seven books as a whole paraphrase the passage from childhood into adulthood.
It must be somewhat telling that some of the audience would prefer the characters to not actually grow up, Peter Pan style, and probably says more about their own arrested development than anything we could say about Harry and his friends.
Learn more about this author, Dave Simmons.
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No
Just because JK Rowling did not include more romance into her perfectly cohesive series does not mean that in her fictional world it did not happen. Many times when an author writes they discard so much of their story because in the end it really has no place within the plot lines. The romance that takes place is central to the plot and necessary for the story to progress. The books are so voluminous already; where would there be any more room for added romance?
Some of the primary adult figures in the book appear unattached. The books focus on the characters, Harry, Ron and Hermione with Harry's point of view. In all reality, how much does a student know about their teacher's love lives? Considering Rowling used the more formal "professor" to address the staff as opposed to Mr., Mrs. or Ms. we are unable to determine any attachments one way or another. It would be out of place for teachers of that caliber and professionalism even to consider discussing their romantic life with their students.
Harry did have an abnormally close relationship with Dumbledore, but in the seventh book, he realizes that their entire relationship has always focused on him. When Harry does learn more about Dumbledore's past we learn about his siblings and parents. These snippets into Dumbledore tell us only what Harry needs to know for his objective to be reached.
Another issue that may contribute to the lack of romance is the war. Voldermort's reign of terror had ended ten years prior to Harrys first term, but how many died at his hand. How many widows and widowers were left? Oddly, this is always how I imagined McGonagall's past, for she would have been married to a brave Gryffindor that opposed Voldermort. Her loss would also contribute to her formidable personality as well as her motherly attachment to Harry. She would feel the need to protect the one person that could defeat the monster that destroyed her lover.
Harry never learns if Sirius had a love interest, sadly they do not get that much time together. Obviously, he was not married but then again Sirius was pretty young when he was sent off to Azkaban. Sirius' personality prior to Azkaban makes me think that there were many girls but none significant enough to mention. I can imagine him as quite the playboy. He was gorgeous, daring and confident but also arrogant.
In the seventh book, Harry learns that Snape's lack of romance is actually quite romantic. No one would every shine a candle to his love for Lily. He spends the remainder of his life protecting the one precious thing left of Lily's, Harry. We only learn this again because it is central to the plot. Harry has to learn this before he can do what needs to be done.
The Harry Potter series is one of the most complex and well-written examples we have of modern fiction. Despite the extreme fantastical personality of the books the characters and human aspects always come across as very realistic. The relationships between the characters mimic that of real life. For JK Rowling to have added more romance in would cross some of these lines, considering the books are Harry's perceptions.
JK Rowling took such care with her books to make sure they were so conscience and exact. There are few examples one could find in her work that do not lead up to the ending of the story. Even the smallest details mentioned contribute to the final outcome. Excessive romance would be used as fluff to fill pages that do not need filled. It may have been interesting for the audience to know, but in the end would have no purpose, as it would not tie into the plot of the stories. It would just be frivolous and JK Rowling is not frivolous.
Learn more about this author, April May Maple.
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